Energy Audit
An energy audit is a systematic assessment of how a building or facility uses energy and where efficiency opportunities exist.
ASHRAE defines three levels of energy audits. Level 1 is a walk-through survey that identifies low-cost and no-cost measures. Level 2 adds detailed energy analysis, utility bill evaluation, and financial screening of recommended measures. Level 3 is an investment-grade audit with extensive metering and modeling for large capital projects.
Audits identify measures such as lighting upgrades, HVAC optimization, building envelope improvements, compressed air leak repair, and controls changes. The output is a prioritized list of projects with estimated costs, savings, and paybacks.
Energy audits feed carbon accounting by quantifying potential emission reductions from each measure and establishing baselines for tracking actual savings after implementation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three levels of energy audits? +
ASHRAE Level 1 is a walk-through survey. Level 2 includes detailed analysis and financial screening. Level 3 is an investment-grade audit with extensive metering and modeling.
What does an energy audit produce? +
An energy audit produces a prioritized list of efficiency measures with estimated costs, savings, and paybacks. It also establishes a baseline for measuring verified savings.
How do energy audits help carbon accounting? +
Audits quantify potential emission reductions from each measure and provide the baseline needed to track real savings after implementation.
Related terms
Energy Management
Energy management is the systematic monitoring, control, and optimization of energy consumption in an organization to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and lower carbon emissions. It encompasses utility bill tracking, real-time meter monitoring, anomaly detection, efficiency project planning, and incentive capture.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency means using less energy to deliver the same service or output. In the context of carbon management, energy efficiency is the fastest, lowest-cost decarbonization lever because every unit of energy saved reduces both operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously.
HVAC Optimization
HVAC optimization improves heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system efficiency through controls, scheduling, setpoint tuning, and equipment upgrades.
LED Lighting Retrofits
An LED lighting retrofit replaces fluorescent, HID, or incandescent fixtures with light-emitting diode (LED) technology. Retrofits typically cut lighting energy use by 40-70%, pay back in one to three years, and are usually the first project in a facility's energy efficiency roadmap.